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{{As of|2022}}, there has been no widespread use of the code, but it can be used on emulator systems, and ''Version 5 Unix'' runs on the [[Nintendo]] [[Game Boy Advance]] using the [[SIMH]] [[PDP-11]] [[emulator]].<ref name="gbaunix">{{cite web |url=http://www.kernelthread.com/publications/gbaunix/ |title=UNIX® on the Game Boy Advance |last=Singh |first=Amit |date=August 2004 |access-date=2009-10-22 |archive-date=2006-08-31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060831141959/http://www.kernelthread.com/publications/gbaunix/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> ''Version 6 Unix'' provides the basis for the MIT [[xv6]] teaching system, which is an update of that version to ANSI C and the x86 or RISC-V platform.
{{As of|2022}}, there has been no widespread use of the code, but it can be used on emulator systems, and ''Version 5 Unix'' runs on the [[Nintendo]] [[Game Boy Advance]] using the [[SIMH]] [[PDP-11]] [[emulator]].<ref name="gbaunix">{{cite web |url=http://www.kernelthread.com/publications/gbaunix/ |title=UNIX® on the Game Boy Advance |last=Singh |first=Amit |date=August 2004 |access-date=2009-10-22 |archive-date=2006-08-31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060831141959/http://www.kernelthread.com/publications/gbaunix/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> ''Version 6 Unix'' provides the basis for the MIT [[xv6]] teaching system, which is an update of that version to ANSI C and the x86 or RISC-V platform.


The [[BSD]] [[Vi (text editor)|vi]] [[text editor]] is based on code from the [[ed (UNIX)|ed]] line editor in those early Unixes. Therefore, "traditional" vi could not be distributed freely, and various work-alikes (such as [[nvi]]) were created. Now that the original code is no longer encumbered, the "traditional" vi has been adapted for modern [[Unix-like]] operating systems.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ex-vi.sourceforge.net/ |title=The Traditional Vi}}</ref>
The [[Berkeley Software Distribution|BSD]] [[Vi (text editor)|vi]] [[text editor]] is based on code from the [[ed (software)|ed]] line editor in those early Unixes. Therefore, "traditional" vi could not be distributed freely, and various work-alikes (such as [[nvi]]) were created. Now that the original code is no longer encumbered, the "traditional" vi has been adapted for modern [[Unix-like]] operating systems.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ex-vi.sourceforge.net/ |title=The Traditional Vi}}</ref>


SCO Group, Inc. was previously called Caldera International. As a result of the ''[[SCO Group, Inc. v. Novell, Inc.]]'' case, Novell, Inc. was found to not have transferred the copyrights of UNIX to SCO Group, Inc.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.groklaw.net/pdf3/SCOvNovell10-4122.pdf|title=10th Circuit Court of Appeals Decision}}</ref> Concerns have been raised regarding the validity of the Caldera license.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://wiki.tuhs.org//doku.php?id=events:free_licenses|title=The Push to Get Free Unix Licenses|author=Warren Toomey}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://virtuallyfun.com/wordpress/2018/11/26/why-bsd-os-is-the-best-candidate-for-being-the-only-tested-legally-open-unix/|title=Why BSD/OS is the best candidate for being the only tested legally open UNIX.}}</ref>
SCO Group, Inc. was previously called Caldera International. As a result of the ''[[SCO Group, Inc. v. Novell, Inc.]]'' case, Novell, Inc. was found to not have transferred the copyrights of UNIX to SCO Group, Inc.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.groklaw.net/pdf3/SCOvNovell10-4122.pdf|title=10th Circuit Court of Appeals Decision}}</ref> Concerns have been raised regarding the validity of the Caldera license.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://wiki.tuhs.org//doku.php?id=events:free_licenses|title=The Push to Get Free Unix Licenses|author=Warren Toomey}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://virtuallyfun.com/wordpress/2018/11/26/why-bsd-os-is-the-best-candidate-for-being-the-only-tested-legally-open-unix/|title=Why BSD/OS is the best candidate for being the only tested legally open UNIX.}}</ref>

Latest revision as of 23:52, 22 October 2024

Version 5 Unix for the PDP-11, running on SIMH
Version 6 Unix for the PDP-11, running in SIMH
Version 7 Unix for the PDP-11, running in SIMH

Ancient UNIX is any early release of the Unix code base prior to Unix System III, particularly the Research Unix releases prior to and including Version 7 (the base for UNIX/32V as well as later developments of AT&T Unix).

After the publication of the Lions' book, work was undertaken to release earlier versions of the codebase. SCO first released the code under a limited educational license.[citation needed]

Later, in January 2002, Caldera International (now SCO Group) relicensed (but has not made available) several versions under the four-clause BSD license, namely:[1][2]

As of 2022, there has been no widespread use of the code, but it can be used on emulator systems, and Version 5 Unix runs on the Nintendo Game Boy Advance using the SIMH PDP-11 emulator.[3] Version 6 Unix provides the basis for the MIT xv6 teaching system, which is an update of that version to ANSI C and the x86 or RISC-V platform.

The BSD vi text editor is based on code from the ed line editor in those early Unixes. Therefore, "traditional" vi could not be distributed freely, and various work-alikes (such as nvi) were created. Now that the original code is no longer encumbered, the "traditional" vi has been adapted for modern Unix-like operating systems.[4]

SCO Group, Inc. was previously called Caldera International. As a result of the SCO Group, Inc. v. Novell, Inc. case, Novell, Inc. was found to not have transferred the copyrights of UNIX to SCO Group, Inc.[5] Concerns have been raised regarding the validity of the Caldera license.[6][7]

The Unix Heritage Society

[edit]

The Unix Heritage Society was founded by Warren Toomey.[8][9] First edition Unix was restored to a usable state by a restoration team from the Unix Heritage Society in 2008. The restoration process started with paper listings of the source code which were in PDP-11 assembly language.[10][11]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Johnson II, Dion L. (2002-01-24). "Liberal license for ancient UNIX sources".
  2. ^ Broderick, Bill (January 23, 2002). "Dear Unix enthusiasts" (PDF). Caldera International. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 19, 2009.
  3. ^ Singh, Amit (August 2004). "UNIX® on the Game Boy Advance". Archived from the original on 2006-08-31. Retrieved 2009-10-22.
  4. ^ "The Traditional Vi".
  5. ^ "10th Circuit Court of Appeals Decision" (PDF).
  6. ^ Warren Toomey. "The Push to Get Free Unix Licenses".
  7. ^ "Why BSD/OS is the best candidate for being the only tested legally open UNIX".
  8. ^ Davis, A. Jesse Jiryu (June 14, 2017). "Assembling the history of Unix". LWN.net. Retrieved 15 June 2023.
  9. ^ Jude, Allan (October 13, 2022). "Warren Toomey interview". BSD Now. Retrieved 15 June 2023. MP3 44:34
  10. ^ Toomey, Warren (July 2010). "First Edition Unix: Its Creation and Restoration". IEEE Annals of the History of Computing. 32 (3): 74–82. doi:10.1109/MAHC.2009.55. S2CID 18586380.
  11. ^ The Restoration of Early UNIX Artifacts
[edit]
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